This is a Christian blog dealing with various issues. “Discernment is not simply a matter of telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather it is the difference between right and almost right.” -Charles Spurgeon. Scripture is my authority for all things regarding to life and godliness. 2 Cor. 10: 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries has a new article on the ecumenical Emergent, Samir Selmonovich.

This article made me think of other quotes by famous heretics in professing Christianity and you can see The Merge happening (at the price of Truth and hate for Christ Jesus). Clearly the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) has embraced "New" Ageism and continues to spread it over time, so that on the one hand The Mistress (called this in Trent Council CANON III) says only in her is there salvation (RCC Catechism #845 & #846), but on the other hand she embraces false religions has having good things in them which lead them to the truth (based on works, of course).

I can truly see how the One World religion in the very last days could very well come about. Remember: both Islam and the Mistress Rome have held "convert or die" for centuries, just as the Lawless One will do in the last days.

Mistress Rome and Islam and Other Religions

The Roman Catholic Encyclopedia says: Nostra Aetate:Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions The Second Vatican Council Promulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI October 28, 1965 Paul, Bishop, Servant of the Servants of God, together with the Fathers of the Sacred Council. For Everlasting Memory.

"The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions [Hinduism, Buddism]. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men. The Church therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men."

"The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself, merciful and all-powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes great pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgement when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting. "

"Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this Sacred Synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom."

RCC Catechism # 843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus,the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life."

RCC Cat. # 841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."

Scripture, however says:

2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

2Jn 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

The Arabic word, "Takeyya", means "to prevent," or guard against. The principle of Al Takeyya conveys the understanding that Muslims are permitted to lie as a preventive measure against anticipated harm to one's self or fellow Muslims. This principle gives Muslims the liberty to lie under circumstances that they perceive as life threatening. They can even deny the faith, if they do not mean it in their hearts. Al-Takeyya is based on the following Quranic verse:

"Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution (prevention), that ye may Guard yourselves from them (prevent them from harming you.) But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah." Surah 3: 28

According to this verse a Muslim can pretend to befriend infidels (in violation of the teachings of Islam) and display adherence with their unbelief to prevent them from harming him. Under the concept of Takeyya and short of killing another human being, if under the threat of force, it is legitimate for Muslims to act contrary to their faith. The following actions are acceptable:

Drink wine, abandon prayers, and skip fasting during Ramadan.
Renounce belief in Allah.
Kneel in homage to a deity other than Allah.
Utter insincere oaths.

End quote.

Remember, the Quran says Allah is the greatest of deceivers according to Surah 3:54. Is it any wonder they so easily lie? Their own father is the Father of Lies.

What better way for Islam to gain a hold of the Mistress Rome, than to infiltrate her? Roman Catholicism sees Islam as a threat no doubt, due to Islam's increasing numbers.

Theresa of Calcutta was a unversalist

"There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic. We believe our work should be our example to people. We have among us 475 souls - 30 families are Catholics and the rest are all Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs—all different religions. But they all come to our prayers." - Theresa of Calcutta

Billy Graham's inclusion of RCC...this is especially condemning of Graham because he holds John Paul 2 up as a believer, all the while Paul 2 blasphemed the very sacrifice of Christ through the damnable eucharist in Mass, taught the dogmas of the RCC which went directly against grace alone in Christ alone apart from any works. John Paul 2 was deceiving millions world-wide:

Dr. Graham told Larry King he had the privilege of seeing the Pope on several occasions at the Vatican.

"And tonight, I have a very strange feeling of loss. I almost feel as though one of my family members has gone. I loved him very much and had the opportunity of discussing so many things with him. And we wrote each other several times during the years," Dr. Graham said.

KING: You said that he was an Evangelist.GRAHAM: He was, indeed. He traveled throughout the world to bring his Christian message to the world. And we see tonight the outpouring from the world that he touched. And I think he touched almost everybody in the whole world.

KING: There is no question in your mind that he is with God now?

GRAHAM: Oh, no. There may be a question about my own, but I don't think Cardinal Wojtyla, or the Pope -- I think he's with the Lord, because he believed. He believed in the Cross. That was his focus throughout his ministry, the Cross, no matter if you were talking to him from personal issue or an ethical problem, he felt that there was the answer to all of our problems, the cross and the resurrection. And he was a strong believer.

Television interview of Billy Graham by Robert Schuller. Part 1, an approximately 7-minute-long broadcast in Southern California on Saturday, May 31, 1997. The following is an exact transcript* of an excerpt close to the end of this broadcast. Go here for the transcript.

Schuller:Tell me, what do you think is the future of Christianity?

Graham:Well, Christianity and being a true believer--you know, I think there's the Body of Christ. This comes from all the Christian groups around the world, outside the Christian groups. I think everybody that loves Christ, or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the Body of Christ. And I don't think that we're going to see a great sweeping revival, that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time. I think James answered that, the Apostle James in the first council in Jerusalem, when he said that God's purpose for this age is to call out a people for His name. And that's what God is doing today, He's calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have, and they turn to the only light that they have, and I think that they are saved, and that they're going to be with us in heaven.

Schuller:What, what I hear you saying that it's possible for Jesus Christ to come into human hearts and soul and life, even if they've been born in darkness and have never had exposure to the Bible. Is that a correct interpretation of what you're saying?

Graham:Yes, it is, because I believe that. I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations, that they have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, and never heard of Jesus, but they've believed in their hearts that there was a God, and they've tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived.

Act 4:11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Php 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Fatheer.

Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Rick Warren is a Universalist:

Berit Kjos has quotes from new ager Alice Bailey and from Rick Warren on his inclusivism as well at Crossroad:

“I happen to know people who are followers of Christ in other religions.” —Rick Warren Aspen Ideas Festival, The Aspen Institute, July 6, 2005, “Discussion: Religion and Leadership,” with David Gergen and Rick Warren

“...You may be Catholic or Protestant or Buddhist or Baptist or Muslim or Mormon or Jewish or Jain, or you have no religion at all. I’m not interested in your religious background. Because God did not create the universe for us to have religion. He came for us to have a relationship with him.” —Rick Warren United Nations, Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, September 2005

Jimmy Carter is a Universalist

Differences of belief -- even among Muslims, Jews and Christians -- are outweighed by a common commitment ‘to truth …’ [Presiden Jimmy ]Carter said. “A World of Baptists” by Greg Warner, Associated Baptist Press, 8/5/05

New Ager Alice Bailey is a Universalist

This Oneness is found in Theosophy (part of the “Ancient Wisdom”) taught by both Alice Bailey and H. P. Blavatsky. It includes the following widespread principles listed by the Blavatsky Net Foundation:

“Brotherhood is a fact in nature. We are ONE at the highest spiritual component of our nature. We are sparks from one flame.”

“The religions of the world are branches on the tree whose trunk is the one ancient - once universal - wisdom religion. The religions are the tributaries of one great river.”
“Humanity’s potential is infinite and every being has a contribution to make toward a grander world. We are all in it together. We are one.”

"Andy Stanley, senior pastor of North Point Ministries in Atlanta, suggested that churches should not focus solely on converting people, as has been the emphasis for generations.

“If we were able to rewrite the script for the reputation of Christianity, I think we would put the emphasis on developing relationships with non-believers, serving them, loving them, and making them feel accepted,” he wrote. “Only then would we earn the right to share the gospel.”

There’s every reason to think that Stanley’s broad-brush pop-art painting plays very well to our notoriously capricious culture but the fact is those of us who hold to proper Biblical theology don’t teach that churches should “focus solely on converting people.” At the same time, that the “converting [of] people...has been the emphasis for generations” really shouldn’t surprise a pastor because it is the secondary mission of local churches. The first being the building up of the Christian to maturity in Christ in order that the Lord may then use them in service as He wills.--Ken Silva

This is an interesting favorable book review on Stanley (which reveals a lot):

"Andy Stanley's purpose in writing "The Next Generation Leader" was to pass on to emerging leaders lessons learned in his own leadership experiences. The book centers on five leadership concepts. 1. Competence - Focus your time and energy in your areas of strength. 2. Courage - The leader is the one willing to take the lead. 3. Clarity - Be clear even if you are uncertain. 4. Coaching - It takes a coach to bring out your full potential. 5. Character - Character makes you a leader worth following and it provides you with moral authority. InAugustinian terms, Stanley has plundered the Egyptians, by borrowing many concepts from authors of business books and translating them into the vernacular of the minister and the world of the church. He does this with numerous examples of characters in the Bible and from his own personal life and ministry. "The Next Generation Leader" is a short, interesting, and thoughtful book designed for those beginning their leadership journey. It should also provide reminders and challenges to those who have served as leaders for some time. I highly recommend the book for emerging Christian leaders. If you are looking for a more comprehensive study of church leadership from a similar perspective I would recommend "Courageous Leadership" by Bill Hybels or "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" by John Maxwell."

"The Genesis of Catalyst Catalyst was conceived as a Next Generation Leaders Conference in 1999 by Andy Stanley and Reggie Joiner from North Point Community Church, along with John C. Maxwell, Gabe Lyons and several young leaders from INJOY[Maxwell's group]. Catalyst was created to meet the felt need that existed within the church leader space for a leadership event that was focused on a new generation of church leaders. Everything within this space seemed built around a forty to sixty year old mindset and medium. This team was convinced that this needed to change. "

Catalyst had heretic Rob Bellin July 2006: "Our latest issue features an interview with Rob Bell, the teaching pastor at Mars Hill just outside of Grand Rapids, and the voice of NOOMA. Rob gives a plethora (yes, plethora) of valuable thoughts, ideas and insights on everything from historical Jewish customs to the “call” of a pastor. He truly seems to be at another level in his thinking. One big idea that seemed to be consistent throughout the two part interview was the value and importance of churches being involved in the local community. So we want to know specifically how YOUR church is having an impact on your local community. Share what is happening."

Ed Stetzer He's on board with ECM leader Potty Mouth Mark Driscoll. ECM blogger TallSkinnyKiwi loves him (which means even if Stetzer started out sort of critiquing ECM, he's not so opposed to it that they couldn't stand him..and now he's joined the softer side via Driscoll's Resurgence team.)

We'll Help You Lose Your Religion.Or at least your perception of it. Maybe you think going to church means being scolded, subjected to boring sermons, and having your wallet emptied. We don't blame you. In fact, we think one of the biggest barriers to getting to know God has been the church itself.

No Hymns, No Pews, And No Excuses Not To Come.Instead of an organ and choir, we have a dynamic band playing music that matters to you. Instead of ritual and routine, we have compelling dramas, comedy skits, and exciting multi-media. All designed to present biblical truths and how they apply to your everyday life.

A New Way To Do Church.Our casual, relaxed atmosphere is a place to investigate Christianity without guilt or pressure. A place to grow spiritually at your own pace. With unconditional love, support, and acceptance during your journey. No strings attached. So come as you are. Go as you want to be. From modern dance to computer animation, we approach church with a wide range of artistic expression and a sense of humor. And we build this freshness and fun into our children's and youth programs, too.

Increase your understanding of Catholic and Protestant beliefs by attending our Pastors & Priests workshop. You'll learn there are many agreements between the two (probably more than you think!) but also take a fair look at the differences. Topics include Purgatory, the Pope, the Virgin Mary, and more! April 19, 2008 9-noon, Clinton Township campus. FREE. Click here to register or call 248-786-0688.

Dave Ferguson: **Update**

Community Christian Church was recently listed in the Top 50 Most Influential Churches according to The Church Report. This alone should be a huge red flag. Dave Ferguson is their senior pastor.

Jeff, an attender of CCC pointed out my misunderstanding regarding Pat Masek being a pastor instead of the assistant to the pastor at CCC. I have corrected my error; an error which was not intentional at all. The doctrine of male leadership would dictate however, as I stated, that no women could be pastors (or leaders of men in church), therefore if a church has a female leading the men, its not a biblical church, which was my point. Here we see Ferguson applaud and look up to women in leadership at his church anyway.

Jeff's comment, however, led me to some more research which I find EXTREEMLY troubling and unbiblical.

Ferguson has shared the pulpit with Tim Keller and Mark Driscoll at Innovation and Exponential conferences.

At Dave Ferguson's blog, he writes in glowing words the following on Novermber 15,2009 titled "Two Chefs, A Pub, And An Art Show" (some emphasis, mine, some original):

Quote:

So what do two chefs, a neighborhood pub and an art show all have in common? They are all a part of the ministry of Life Churchin New Castle, Australia.This Life Church is not be to be confused with maybe another LifeChurch.tv you have heard about. While this Life Church may have far less people, they make up for it with a tremendous missional drive and desire. During the first four days of our trip to Australia Kevin Wilcock, the Pastor of the church was our host. How do I describe Kevin? The only thing Kevin loves more than a good drink and a party is probably his family, his church and Jesus! Kevin is a wild character; but he has a creative passion for helping people find their way back to God.

They announced they were starting a new service in the local pub called The Kent that would meet on Sunday nights. The poster advertising the "2 beer service" is to your left.

All this took place just during the few days I was there...while holding a leadership conference! They are doing a lot more than that too! They have AA groups, SA groups, NA groups and more. They host jazz concerts with local professional jazz musicians at their church.

I left his church inspired to be more missional, more engaged in the community an more intentional about using all our resources to reach out to the least, lost and lonely and help them find their way back to God!

End quote,

"Church" and "beer" should never go together for a number of reasons. The first of which, we live in a society where getting drunk is an enormous problem (as is drunk driving). There are many drunks too, hence the popularity of AA. And while offering a pub and beer as a MINISTRY, they also offer AA? That's not only unbiblical, its unbelievable and self-contradictory! The other reason is that pastors should not cause the weaker brothers to stumble. Promoting church drinking...CHURCH DRINKING is not love at all; its sin against those Christians who have a struggle or who have had a struggle with alcohol, or who have family members that do. Its also sin against a young Christian who is very impressionable and perhaps has a very sensitive conscience, having just come out of the world. This isn't being others-minded. Its being worldly, fleshly, and frankly, if I may, immature.

In addition, pastors, as well as all Christians, really, are to be examples to the lost and dying world. While drinking on occassion in a private or quiet way is not prohibited by Scripture, promoting it and COMBINING it with the church is flaunting a "freedom" that is diametrically opposed by God's Word. Scripture says we are to be sober-minded (1Thes. 5:7-9; 1Tim. 3:2,11; 2Tim. 4:5;Titus 2:2; 1Peter 1:3;1Peter 4:7). This is especially true of men in leadership.

1Ti 3:2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

Rom 14:19So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 21It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.

Gal 5:13For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Tit 2:7Show yourselfin all respects to be a model of good works, and in your

teaching show integrity, dignity,8and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an

opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Eph 5:18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the

Spirit,

And finally, the other two teachers at the emergent Exponential 08 Conference, none other than Rick Warrenand Tim Keller.

It doesn't matter how many people say Keller's not going emergent. The fact is, he's a heretic and he's sharing the stage with several Emergent Church Movement leaders.

2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?2Co 6:15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?2Co 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.2Co 6:17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Jud 1:4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

2. Balanced Theology Department: One of the biggest problems with many seminaries is that they don’t have balance in their presentation of theology. Their agenda is to make you a particular type of theologian. I don’t have too much of a problem with a seminary having a confession or reputation of holding to a particular tradition or sub-tradition (e.g. Reformed, Baptist, Dispensational). The problem arises when their passions for this tradition cause them to skew the theological landscape to their favor. This type of intellectual dishonesty has no place in the training of leaders. The theology department must be confident enough to give people a balanced perspective, representing all relevant views with the clarity of its adherents. By doing so the seminary creates an atmosphere where true learning and true conviction can take place. It also keeps its graduates from becoming unnecessarily divisive over non-essential issues, keeping the focus on the Gospel. The Holy Spirit will create the convictions for his purpose when truth is taught with balance. The seminary needs to trust him enough to do so.

I love that: teaching equally truth AND error equals "balance". Can't be dogmatic--be unsure, uncertain and above all "irenic". Teach the error, offer the poison, and then let the Holy Spirit work? God destroyed the leaders of Israel for teaching error. Are the seminaries any better than them? God condemned error being taught in the New Testament too (1John, Co. 1-2---clearly they were dealing with gnostic hereies and we don't see John or Paul teaching "both sides").

Scripture isn't, in that line of thinking, "balanced" simply because it is ONLY teaching Truth. Its decidedly ONE SIDED. Its BIASED. And if we are students of Scripture, we ought to be also.

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Ecc 10:1 Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

2Co 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

See that? We are to destroy every arguement and opinion that is against Truth--not wallow in it, not play with it and bounce it around to see how fun it might be, not try it out for size, not consider how it might help the cause of Truth. NO! 1John 2:21 says NO LIE is of the Truth.

2Ti 2:23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

2 Tim. 2: ﻿16﻿ Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ﻿17﻿ Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ﻿18﻿ who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

Patton and his crew would have you think its ok to indulge in the error and that there is benefit in it. This is contrary to the above passage of Scripture. Indulging in error will promote it and cause many to wander from the Truth--as these men and women exemplify. Moreover, the necessary fruit of handling and considering error is ungodliness.

1Ti 4:7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;

How I wish RTM would listen and believe Scripture, and hear the wisdom of Shindler and Spurgeon who dealt with the same issues over 100 years ago!

Among the Independents the leaven worked. In the colleges, or academies, as they were then called, the mischief first came to a head. Doctor Doddridge was as sound as he was amiable; but perhaps he was not always judicious; or more probably still, he was too judicious, and not sufficiently bold and decided. As the pastor of an influential church, and as the head of an academy which ranked higher than any other, his amiable disposition permitted him to do what men made of sterner stuff would not have done. He sometimes mingled in a fraternal manner, even exchanging pulpits, with men whose orthodoxy was called in question. It had its effect on many of the younger men, and served to lessen in the estimate of the people generally the growing, divergence of sentiment.

Dr. Joseph Priestley, the great champion of Socinianism among NonconformistsHe says:—"In my time the academy was in a state peculiarly favorable to the serious pursuit of truth, as the students were about equally divided upon every question of much importance, such as liberty, necessity, the sleep of the soul, and all the articles of theological orthodoxy and heresy; in consequence of which, all these topics were the subject of continual discussion. Our tutors, also, were of different opinions, Dr. Ashworth taking the orthodox side of every question, and Mr. Clark, the sub-tutor, that of heresy, though always with the greatest modesty. Both of our tutors being young, at least as tutors, and some of the senior students excelling more than they could pretend to do in several branches of study, they indulged us in the greatest freedoms. The general plan of our studies, which may be seen in Dr. Doddridge's published lectures, was exceedingly favorable to free enquiry, as we were referred to authors on both sides of every question. In this situation I saw reason to embrace what is generally called the heterodox side of every question."But in too many cases sceptical daring seems to have taken the place of evangelical zeal, and the husks of theological speculations are preferred to the wholesome bread of gospel truth. With some the endeavor seems to be not how steadily and faithfully they can walk in the truth, but how far they can get from it. To them divine truth is like a lion or a tiger, and they give it "a wide berth." Our counsel is—Do not go too near the precipice; you may slip or fall over. Keep where the ground is firm; do not venture on the rotten ice.

So we venture to say to any venturesome spirit who wants to follow the Will-with- a-wisp of modern thought, "Don't try it; there are dangerous bogs near, where you may soon lose yourself and all that is dear to you." If anyone wishes to know where the tadpole of Darwinism was hatched, we could point him to the pew of the old chapel in High Street, Shrewsbury, where Mr. Darwin, his father, and we believe his father's father, received their religious training. The chapel was built for Mr. Talents, an ejected minister; but for very many years full-blown Socinianism has been taught there, as also in the old chapel at Chester, where Matthew Henry used to minister, and where a copy of his Commentary, of the original edition, is kept for public use, the only witness, we fear, to the truths he taught there.

The first step astray is a want of adequate faith in the divine inspiration of the sacred Scriptures.All the while a man bows to the authority of God's Word, he will not entertain any sentiment contrary to its teaching. "To the law and to the testimony," is his appeal concerning every doctrine. He esteems that holy Book, concerning all things, to be right, and therefore he hates every false way. But let a man question, or entertain low views of the inspiration and authority of the Bible, and he is without chart to guide him, and without anchor to hold him. But when, on the other hand, reason has been exalted above revelation, and made the exponent of revelation, all kinds of errors and mischiefs have been the result.

... humanreason is exalted to a higher office, and what is not comprehensible by its grasp, is not readily received. The mind of the Socinian feels still less veneration for the Word of God; for, according to his sentiments, some parts of it are not inspired; mistakes occur in the reasoning of the apostles; not a few passages are unauthentic, and what remains is interpreted with a latitude as to the expressions and language of Scripture, which would not be tolerated in expounding the sense of any other writer." ("History of Dissenters," by Bogue and Bennet.)They run in 'the course of this world,' follow every fashionable folly, and family and personal godliness seems in general to be lost among them. There is scarcely any appearance of life and zeal in the cause of religion, which demands and deserves the greatest.

When the Holy Spirit is the teacher of the infallible, inerrant, technically precise Word of God, people will see the fruit:

Act 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

2Co 11:3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Sadly those in Reclaiming the Mind have studied themselves away from the Truth and promote the error they "studied" so they could be "balanced". Pity.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

I read a review of Mark Irreverent Potty Mouth Driscoll's latest book, "Vintage Jesus" which hardly seems to reflect anything close to the True Jesus and thus which doesn't elicit any fear in Driscoll. Erick Raymond's article is posted at Camp On This. I have to say that it seems to parallel the same obnoxious twisting of Mary that Emergent Scot McKnight does in his book "The Real Mary".

Sadly too many Christians were/are hoping for improvment with Driscoll, but what they don't realize is that the man is speaking things that flow from his heart. He won't get better until he has a new heart of flesh. Why "Reformers" don't get this (when they DO get it with others) is weird.

Erick Raymond lists some of the more offensive Driscoll quotes in his review:

For example, Driscoll, in his run through The Gospel According to Mark, describes Jesus as a guy who,

“[tells] a leper to shut-up”“does the equivalent of breaking into a church on a Sunday morning to make a sandwich with the communion bread..”“needs Paxil”“needs sensitivity training”“has his guys take a donkey without asking like some kleptomaniac donkeylifter”“[Is] an obvious workaholic who needed to start drinking decaf and listening to taped sounds of running water while doing aromatherapy so he could learn to relax.”

Sounds more like Kenneth Copeland's view of God--the irreverence is alarming. Criticism is reserved for Copeland who says that Jesus had taken on a sin nature and be born again in hell, but what Driscoll says is just as atrocious. Guess Driscoll gets a free pass because he mouths "TULIP" or "Reformed"? This is absolutely HORRIBLE!

More quotes from Driscoll:

“Jesus’ mom was a poor, unwed teenage girl who was mocked for claiming she conceived via the Holy Spirit. Most people thought she concocted a crazy story to cover the ‘fact’ she was knocking boots with some guy in the backseat of a car at the prom.” (p.11)“Jesus’ humor was often biting and harsh, particularly when directed at the Pharisees. For example, he called them a bag of snakes, said that their moms shagged the Devil, and mocked them for tithing out of their spice racks.” (pp. 40-41)“Joining them later at the party at Matthew’s house was nothing short of a very bad hip-hop video, complete with women in clear heels, dudes with their pants around their ankles and handguns in their underwear strap, lots of gold teeth, bling, spinners on camels, cheap liquor, and grinding to really loud music with a lot of bass. When word got out to the religious folks, they were perplexed as to how Jesus could roll with such a jacked-up posse. Jesus’ answer was purely priestly. Jesus said that they were sick and needed mercy.” (p.77)“Some Catholic theologians taught that Jesus was not born in the normal fashion through Mary’s birth canal. Rather, they say he was born via something much like a miraculous C-section, as if Mary were some Messiah-in-the-box, and Joseph cranked her arm until the Messiah popped out of her gut.” (p. 93)"On the cross as our substitute, Jesus was made to be the worst of what we are. This does not mean that Jesus ever sinned. Rather, it means that he was made sin. As a result, in that moment when Jesus cried out that he had been forsaken by God the Father, Jesus became the most ugly, wicked, defiled, evil, corrupt, rebellious, and hideous thing in all creation.In that moment, Jesus became a homosexual, alcoholic, thief, glutton, addict, pervert, adulterer, coveter, idol worshiper, whore, pedophile, self-righteous religious prig—and whatever else we are.” (p. 114)

Driscoll also says in his book: "Jesus was born in a dumpy, rural, hick town, not unlike those today where guys change their own oil, think pro wrestling is real, find women who chew tobacco sexy, and eat a lot of Hot Pockets with their uncle-daddy. Jesus' mom was a poor, unwed teenage girl who was often mocked for claiming she conceived via the Holy Spirit. Most people thought she concocted the crazy story to cover the fact she was knocking boots with some guy in the backseat of a car at the prom."

Ecc 12:13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecc 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Eph 6:5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,

Psa 36:1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.

Lighthouseresearchtrails : "Those who Driscoll admires were some of the greatest enemies of Christian doctrine of the 20th century." Driscoll has continued to promote the Emergent Church Movement garbage. Lighthouseresearchtrails has some VERY good information on Driscoll.

Driscoll is poison to the Body of Christ and John Piper is helping spread his poison willingly, as are other reformers (you know, those who say well, yes Driscoll's langauge isn't all that great, but let's not throw out the baby with the bath water....after all, he's one of US!" types). Yet these reformers are the same types who rip on Benny Hinn, but there's no difference, except maybe, in subtlety.

Driscoll has NO FEAR OF GOD in his eyes. NONE. He violates Scripture in continuing in course words and unfit language. He destroys the HOLINESS and FEAR for Christ Jesus. There is nothing worth taking from Driscoll's pig stye to sift through and find truth. Go to Scripture and find the pristine reverence for Christ, held up above all people and all of Creation, set apart as Master, Righteous One, and without spot or blemish, never acting like the pigs, dogs, and vipers of His day.

Scripture says of men like Driscoll:

Rom 3:10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;Rom 3:11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.Rom 3:12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." Rom 3:13 "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."Rom 3:14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."Rom 3:15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;Rom 3:16 in their paths are ruin and misery,Rom 3:17 and the way of peace they have not known."Rom 3:18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Jud 1:10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Jud 1:11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.

Jud 1:12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

Jud 1:16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

Jud 1:18 They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." Jud 1:19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Reclaiming the Mind’s Converse With A Scholar offers Mark Driscoll (April 24, 2008), Scot McKnight (April 3, 2008 ), and Dan Kimball(March 20,2008) for the sheep to listen to. However, what they offer is nothing but Emergent Church garbage. Take a look here at Lighthouse Research Trails’ March 2007 Newsletter :

Incidentally, in Zondervan's book, Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches, Robert Webber, the editor of the book, says that "traditionalists have been out of touch with cultural changes, and the contemporaries who have become so thoroughly enmeshed with and catechized by culture are out of touch with the traditions. This reality has created what seems to be an unalterable division between devoted Christians" (p. 213). This is a scary statement, and here is why: In Dan Kimball's book, They Like Jesus But Not the Church, he makes it clear that "traditionalists" are those who take the Bible literally. Webber says those kind of Christians are out of touch with today's culture (in other words they don't wear hip looking eye glasses or wear slicked back hair or drink beer at the pubs with gays, or cuss in public). That makes them abnormal and oblivious to the world around them according to Kimball. Webber would like to see the two types of Christians (those literalists who believe everything the Bible says and those emergents) come together. He states: "What are we to do? Should we encourage the split? Or is there a new direction for us all? ... What will it take to create an Ancient-Future faith (Webber's name for the emerging church)?" (p. 213) He goes on and tells the solution: "First, an Ancient-Future faith calls us to return to our ancient roots in the first centuries of the church." He explains that these "ancient roots" include "spiritual formation" (contemplative mysticism) and he says that while there have been reforms throughout history (such as the Reformation), we do not need to be divided over them (he includes Catholicism) and says we are "connected to the same family. This ecumenical conviction is central to an Ancient-Future Vision" (p. 214).

In emerging church leader, Scot McKnight's book, The Real Mary: Why Evangelical Christians Can Embrace the Mother of Jesus, McKnight says that Protestant Christians are the only Christians who do not honor Mary. He recommends that Protestant churches all practice an "Honor Mary Day" (p. 144), saying she "leads us to a Jesus who brings redemption ... To listen to Mary is to hear the message of Jesus' death and resurrection as a mega-event whereby God established a new kind of power, a new kind of family, and a new kind of kingdom" (p. 145). McKnight describes this great event as a time when the world will come together and worship Mary.

Today, Christendom has become filled with leaders who have lost their way. If Christian leaders like David Jeremiah and Josh McDowell, who are now promoting emerging leaders, continue in their present direction, they will be responsible for countless lives losing their chances for hearing the true gospel, and these leaders will be helping pave the way for an interspiritual, mystical, apostate religion.Unquote.

Pastors and church leaders who are planning on attending the 2008 National Pastors Convention, which will be presented by Zondervan Publishing and InterVarsity Press this coming February, should think twice about going. After travel expenses, ticket, lodging and food, the cost for the event for one pastor could easily run over a thousand dollars. In light of the speakers who will be teaching, and other events being offered, this may prove to be an unfruitful way to spend so much money, and may even be spiritually detrimental.

Speakers at this year's event include some of the most blatant proponents of contemplative spirituality and the emerging church, which in many cases also means having a propensity toward Catholic mysticism and interspirituality. Some of these speakers include: Ruth Haley Barton, Tony Jones, Erwin McManus, John Ortberg, J.P. Moreland, Calvin Miller, Scot McKnight, and Dan Kimball. Chuck Colson, co-author of the ecumenical Evangelicals & Catholics Together document will also be speaking. Emerging church favorite Phyllis Tickle (who once called Brian McLaren the next Luther) will be a speaker at the event as well. 1 A number of other speakers also fall into the contemplative/emerging camp.

A number of other speakers also fall into the contemplative/emerging camp. Extra activities offered at the convention, in addition to seminars by the speakers, include "Christian Yoga" presented by Shelly Pagitt (wife of emerging church leader Doug Pagitt), New Age sympathizer Rob Bell's Nooma films, opportunities to be instructed by "spiritual directors" (those who teach contemplative spirituality), and prayer Labyrinths.

Critical concern courses will offer "Practicing the Presence of Jesus: A Spiritual Retreat" by Mark Yaconelli, who once revealed to Lighthouse Trails that he taught mantra meditation in his classes. Popular teachers Henry Cloud and John Townsend (CCN) have found a teaching place at the convention too in a critical concerns course called "Revolutionizing Group Life in the Church." Having these two mainstream speakers will give much credibility to the event in the eyes of many. Dan Kimball will teach a course named after his book They Like Jesus but not the Church (see review).

Unquote.

**UPDATE***The Submerging Influence, a "community blog" of Reclaiming the Mind, links some of the most liberal "Christian" websites: iMonk (Michael Spence), Jesus Creed (Scot McKnight) and Christianity Today. This is no surprise. In fact it just confirms the lack of love for purity in doctrine and love of Truth, God, and His children. Offering poisoned water doesn't glorify Him.

2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?2Co 6:15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 2Co 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.2Co 6:17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,

Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- Gal 1:7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Jud 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

2Pe 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

NO.2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,

Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchangedthe glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

1Jn 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

Why then, if Scripture is crystal clear, do seminary professors have to write seven pages to answer the simple question above?

Because in their mind, they DO have the same God, if "only in part".

Unbelievable! Anti-Scriptural.

Isa 40:18 To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?

Isa 46:5 "To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?

So why do these seminarian professors liken the demon Allah to God and God to the demon Allah? Or compare the false god of the Open Theist to the Omnicient God of Scripture?God says DO NOT DO IT.

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Times Online (London) has an article on the banning of plastic bags because it has been discovered it kills 100,000 animals annually. The problem is that its not true. Here's what it says in part:

The central claim of campaigners is that the bags kill more than 100,000 marine mammals and one million seabirds every year. However, this figure is based on a misinterpretation of a 1987 Canadian study in Newfoundland, which found that, between 1981 and 1984, more than 100,000 marine mammals, including birds, were killed by discarded nets. The Canadian study did not mention plastic bags.

Fifteen years later in 2002, when the Australian Government commissioned a report into the effects of plastic bags, its authors misquoted the Newfoundland study, mistakenly attributing the deaths to “plastic bags”.

The figure was latched on to by conservationists as proof that the bags were killers. For four years the “typo” remained uncorrected. It was only in 2006 that the authors altered the report, replacing “plastic bags” with “plastic debris”. But they admitted: “The actual numbers of animals killed annually by plastic bag litter is nearly impossible to determine.” In a postscript to the correction they admitted that the original Canadian study had referred to fishing tackle, not plastic debris, as the threat to the marine environment. Regardless, the erroneous claim has become the keystone of a widening campaign to demonise plastic bags.

This is also the reason why people today think there's a "Gay Gene" --because an National Press Reporter misunderstood the study (couldn't read it properly). Now its thought to be so, even though the report never said such a thing.

Contrary to what the mainstream media wants you to believe, including ol' Al Gore, there is NOT a consensus on global warming and therefore there is a continuing need for the debate and getting clear facts. Taking a picture of a "stranded" polar bear on ice and use him for the symbol of the dire future of global warming, when in fact the picture was taken in the summer, is unethical and dishonest. Ice melts in the summer. Bears are dumb. But its not about global warming.

Besides the environmental issues (here in CA they also want to ban plastic bags), what struck me with the Times news article is how people get misled.

PEOPLE DO NOT CHECK SOURCES and just believe what someone "in authority" tells them, thus the lie continues and grows. In this case, its the Magisterium of Science that can do NO WRONG and ALWAYS have their facts straight. With the "Gay Gene" it was that a news report had all their facts right. In Christian circles its the Magisterium of seminary professors, pastors, and dead men, that can do no wrong, and thus are followed infallibly.

We must always test everything in light of Scripture. And when it comes the bandwagons of the world, we too must check sources and ask the right questions. If "everyone" is doing "it" or believing "it" does that make it right? Likely it could mean its not. Balance is good in a lot of things like environmental issues. I'd take an exception with "balance" in biblical truth though (that could be another blog entry idea).

Especially in regard to spiritual things, numbers do not determine truth; God's Word ALONE does.Do you have a Magisterium?Are there men or women you place in such high esteem that if they proclaim something you automatically believe it without testing them?Do you consider counsel from the unbelievers?Do you DELIGHT in Scripture, thinking on it constantly?Or do you indulge in the thoughts of philosophers and psychologists--men without Truth, men who are enemies of God, men who deny the Sufficiency of Scripture?

Remember:

Act 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Friday, March 07, 2008

" Immediately, this little squirt named Orville looked right in my eyes and said, ‘Do you know Jesus?’ And I said no. And then he said, ‘Bow your head, we’re going to ask Jesus into your heart.’ And I said the sinner’s prayer after him. That happened without anyone explaining the Gospel to me. Everything suddenly clicked. God just grabbed me, reached in and burned in my heart. It was the most incredible power I have ever experienced in my life. It was a tremendous burning sensation of an inner witness. It was something of the awesomeness of God’s love. I can’t even express it.At that moment God delivered me from drugs." --Seve Mays, pastor of Calvary Chapel of Gardena

"This may seem unbelievable, but the only way I can explain it is that Jesus Himself manifested right there next to me. He had come to meet me on my knees. It wasn't as though I could see Him or touch Him. But, He was there. I was aware of His Holy awesome holy presence next to me. It was incredible. It was wonderful and I felt my heart enveloped and lifted by Him.

I knew He loved me. I basked in His presence. I was with Jesus. Then, while I was kneeling there, utterly absorbed and drifting in the experience of His presence, He moved. He moved toward me and gently entered my heart. Instantly, I physically felt my sin leave me. I felt the sudden and wonderful burst of forgiveness wash over my soul. I was instantly cleansed and born again and with it came the most profound and absolute sense of security of salvation I had ever known. My salvation was in Him. I was forgiven and safe for ever."

"Why did it take two years for me to learn of Christ's physical resurrection? It was because I was not attending a church before or after my salvation. " --Matt Slick of CARMSee also here and here (go to the bottom gray column to see what's up for grabs and still be "saved").

Folks, this is emotionalism, not conversion.

2 Thes. 2: ﻿13﻿ But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you ﻿to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ﻿14﻿ He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

James 1: ﻿18﻿ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Even in our baptism we proclaim His resurrection, and look to the future of being like the resurrected Lord:

Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

There is but one way of justification and salvation: by faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Any other way is illegitimate and cannot save (John 10).

What is also astonishing me is what else Steve Mays went on to say at his website:

"Steve Mays got his church, and the board of senior pastors and I were the ones to recommend it. In 1980 he walked onto the premises of his new church. And Steve got more confirmation from the Lord. Suddenly in the sky he saw a Goodyear blimp. At that moment he heard the Lord speak to his heart, It's going to be a good year. Then Steve told the Lord that the entire board of elders would have to resign so he could start from scratch. That is exactly what happened. "

The blimp was God telling him of the future? And then Steve demanded from God to get rid of all the elders?

This is disturbing. Clearly Mays did get his church, but is it God's? Has Mays yet to have a credible testimony of repentance from sin and faith in the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ? Did he ever get baptized?

Steve Macasil at Biblical Thoughts has a good question posted right now which I'd like to re-address here (as I have written on this in the past, but it continues to rear its ugly head):

Can someone get saved apart from the Gospel?

In an word: no.

Scripture is quite clear on what we are to place our faith in, in order to be Justified and saved:

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Joh 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

Rom 4:5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

The resurrection proves Jesus to be God the Son. If He is not declared to be such, then people don't know of Him and aren't saved. They might be trusting a "good teacher" but its not the Jesus Christ of Scripture who is God over all.

Rom 1:3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

James 1: ﻿18﻿ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.

2 Thes. 2: ﻿13﻿ But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you ﻿to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ﻿14﻿ He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Even in our baptism we proclaim His resurrection, and look to the future of being like the resurrected Lord:

Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

It still astounds me how many pastors, theologians, and apologists will proclaim a Broad Christianity when God says its NARROW. And I do believe Romans 10:9-10 demonstrates just how narrow the road truly is.

The problem is that people don't want a Lord/Master. They want a friend or someone who's got good suggestions. But clearly they rather do things their way, not HIS way. I believe most professing Christians don't understand the meaning of "Lord" and think of it as merely a title like "Mister" now. But Lord means master, boss, sovereign, owner of all, etc. Today, I think because of the Democracy-minded people, they believe God is a hired politician and we get to vote on His Word, His ways, and His means.

Jesus is Master. HE is a dictator in the purest, noblest sense.

DICTATOR, n. [L.]1. One who dictates; one who prescribes rules and maxims for the direction of others. 2. One invested with absolute authority.

Luk 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?

1Jo 2:4 Whoever says "I know Him" but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

Ps. 33: ﻿8﻿ Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. 9﻿ For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. 10﻿ The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11﻿ But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Rev 4:11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created."

When God has told us how HE will save and not save, how He will have us live and not live, how He will justify, sanctify, glorify, how a church is structured, how to baptize, who are we to change HIS commands?

God's ways ARE narrow. Truth IS narrow. And when God says there is but ONE way of salvation and that is by hearing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ , then that is it. Anything short of HIS way is no way.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Rom 10:14 How then will they call on him inwhom theyhave not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?And how are they to hear without someone preaching? Rom 10:15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

No matter what famous Christians say (dead or alive), what matters is what GOD says. He has spoken. Will we believe HIM? Or will we believe the Serpent who questioned God's authority, word, and command by offering Eve "knowledge"?

Monday, March 03, 2008

Jer 6:10 To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.

Jer 7:2 "Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the LORD. Jer 7:3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. Jer 7:4 Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.'

I am constantly astounded at the lengths "Christians" will go to be accepted and accepting of other professing Christians.

Clearly we live in a day where people are so undiscerning that when someone claims the name of Christ and/or Reformed, why, they must be our brother or sister in Christ! Except.... that they deny biblical doctrine or live lives that are contrary to Scripture (1John 1-2).

Its at the point now where I believe "Reformed" is the new "Evanglical". And neither mean anything other than "man-centeredness". Christianity at large has the Magisterium Mentality and the laziness of the Reformers and Romanists.

Ok, I've fired away and clearly someone's going to think I'm way out in left field. I understand that. I'll explain more of what I mean.

In talking to dozens and dozens of "Christians" and "Reformers" and reading their blogs and articles and such, I've noticed a growing trend in their thinking.

They continually run to a commentary, catechism or creed to know what to say or think or believe. Forget going straight to God and His Word. That's too hard! Just give 'em the Cliff Note version. After all, the Word is merely baby milk, but the theologians...well, now, THERE'S where the meat is!

The continuing list of what a Reformer can hold to as optional yet find "unity" by holding to the TULIP (well, sort of) and Creeds:

Feminism: women can be pastors and leaders over men in church (see the RTS Orlando pushing Synergy feminist conference). Reformed Theological Seminary (Orlando) and evangelical feminism…Emergent Church Movement junkJesus' physical returnOur physical resurrectionSatan as our current enemyJustification by faith aloneAdam is literalFruit of the SpiritCreation in literal 6 daysImpeccability of ChristLordship of ChristNot using freedoms in Christ to cover evil; causing a brother to stumbleNot Getting DrunkRepentanceGospel includes the resurrection of JesusLiteral hellAnnihilationismThe Narrow Road excludes many people (the Broad Road) (aka no Universalism)The Trinity

This leads me to ask, what makes anyone a Christian? Because they SAY they are?

This POMO age has created "Christians" that not only do not know biblical doctrine, they don't live by it nor do they think its clear. Instead it has trained "Christians" to think ignorance as a virtue rather than a vice. That riding the fence is GOOD rather than BAD. I'm sorry people, but when a PROFESSOR at a SEMINARY doesn't know that God created the universe in six LITERAL Days, its time for him to pack up, go home, study Scripture ALONE, and sit under biblical teaching in a biblical church.

Its not rocket science.Truth IS knowable. Jesus said it is.

What I can't understand is that when a "Christian" teacher/preacher blathers on with grotesque language, contrary to Ephes. 4, that's lauded as relevant or passed off as "immaturity". However, when pointing out the gross error and unacceptable according to Scripture, people like me are written off as "judgmental" and "unloving". I see hypocrisy written all over this.

In criticizing Driscoll, one PCA pastor cussed me out and then said "now, I have to go finish my sermon for tomorrow".

Yeah, THAT'S honoring to the Lord.

People! Do you really think God in heaven winks at our sin? At our foul or course language? That He doesn't really see or count against us, our "acceptable sins"? That in God's view, the "good" outweighs the "bad"?

I hear in defense of Driscoll, "well at least he's trying to reach others" or "its just a different methodology or style difference."

God will NOT allow such nonsense.

Jas 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Jas 3:9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. Jas 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Jas 3:11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Jas 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Jas 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Jas 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. Jas 3:15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Jas 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. Jas 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Jas 3:18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

How did God deal with the shepherds of Israel? Did He wink at their sin and excused it as being merely "immature"?

Jer 6:13 "For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. Jer 6:14 They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. Jer 6:15 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown," says the LORD.

Jer 6:17 I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not pay attention.' Jer 6:18 Therefore hear, O nations, and know, O congregation, what will happen to them.

Jer 6:19 Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it. Jer 6:20 What use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me. Jer 6:21 Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will lay before this people stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; fathers and sons together, neighbor and friend shall perish.'"

Jer 7:4 Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.'

Jer 7:23 But this command I gave them: 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.' Jer 7:24 But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.

When "Christians" want to "do Christianity" their own way, they will come under HIS rebuke, if not wrath. God is still the same today as He was in ancient times. HIS NAME WILL NOT BE MALIGNED by those who cuss, swear, joke, and trivialize about HIM, HIS Word, and His Son.

God will not look down upon someone and say "Well, they are sincere, its ok". I am not talking about an ignorant newborn Christian. However, even THEY can see how wrong a lot of this garbage is.

When a "pastor" heartily approves of doctrine and conduct contrary to Scripture, he has disqualified himself.

And I might say here that "methodology" reveals one's doctrine. If one is wrong, the other will be also.

How in the world can anyone who claims to be a study of Scripture put filthy language under the Romans 14 catagory?

Eph 5:3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4﻿ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Eph 5:7 Therefore do not associate with them;

Eph 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Eph 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

God cares not just about HOW we live, but our doctrine as well. There is no such thing as optional biblical doctrine. All Truth is to be believed and obeyed. HE is our MASTER, DICTATOR, BOSS. HE dictates to us how we all are to live, not live, get saved, not get saved, minister, etc. He has told us in His Living Scriptures. Do you believe it? Or are you your own master? Do you relegate God's commands to something you'll get around to when you have the time? When it finally becomes important to you?

When "Christians" call heretics "brothers" they are violating Scripture and are leading others to follow suit.

Scripture is clear that we are to divide from heretics and expose their dark deeds, NOT CODDLE THEM. Such nonsense is what the Fluff N Stuff "Christians" do: luuuv everyone to Hell because they don't want to divide from those that claim Jesus.

"Touch not my seminary anointed and do my Reformed prophets no harm!"

We must test all people, songs, books, authors, pastors, teachers, Bible-study leaders, and of course ourselves by the Word of God. No one gets a free pass. I don't care if ALL the Seminaries agree on something, if they are contrary to Scripture, they must be exposed.

Knowing Greek or Hebrew never saved a soul. It doesn't matter if you never learned it. It doesn't help you know the deep Truths of Scripture. If you really think that, then you are in lock-step with the Gnostics and Charismatics who have similar notions. And you also neglect the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit and the sufficiency of Scripture.

Truth is knowable. Any doctrine that is harder to understand in Scripture is just that: harder, but not impossible to know.

It begins with the Gospel of Christ Jesus and how HE not just us eternally God the Son, but is Creator, and that took on the form of man, lived a sinless life, but was crucified, took the wrath of the Father against sinners, died, and was buried and that on the third day He rose again from the dead according to the Scriptures. It is His resurrection that declares Him to be God and is what justifies us. (Romans 1:3-4; 4:25)

As to embracing a person who holds to a works justification (Wright, even Martin Luther):

Rom 4:5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- Gal 1:7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Gal 1:11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.

There is but one Gospel and there is but one way of Justification. Scripture tells of no other. His way IS narrow and few that find it. Romans 10:9-10 clearly make it VERY narrow indeed.

About Me

My name is Denise. I grew up in the Charismatic movement, but God delivered me out of it, and I thank Him for that. My heart is to show other believers the error of various movements(WOF, NAR, Seeker Friendly, Reformed theology/New Calvinism).I want to help them find truth through Scripture. I love the Word of God and hold it dear to my heart. It is the standard by which I filter everything, including doctrine & politics, including my own thoughts and actions. Ps 138:2
There is One God, and within the One God there are three distinct, co-equal and co-eternal persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit(1Peter 1:2; Matt. 28:19; Matt. 3:16-17; John 14:16-17). Literal 6 day Creation is Truth.Scripture is infallible, inerrant, & God-breathed (2Tim. 3:16, Heb.4:12, Ps. 19 & 119). Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone apart from any works (baptism, prayers, walking an aisle, etc.) so that no one can boast (Eph. 2:8-10). God is totally Sovereign in ALL things (Ps 33). I do mean ALL. Man is responsible for his sin. God is responsible for saving the elect through HIS means.